Mechanically adjustable boom type pull shovel attachment for cranes



March 1959 T. A. HELLANDER 2,876,920

' MECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE BOOM TYPE PULL SHOVEL ATTACHMENT FOR CRANES Filed Sept. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllllHl Thomas A. He/lander IN VEN TOR.

March 10, 1959 -r. A. HELLANDER 2,875,920 MECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE BOOM TYPE PULL SHOVEL ATTACHMENT FOR CRANES Filed Sept. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QN r, s ms wk W mm m "E eV Hm 3 N\ a m m M T. A. HELLANDER 2,876,920 MECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE BOOM TYPE PULL SHOVEL ATTACHMENT FOR CRANES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 10, 1959 Filed Sept. 15, 1955 Thomas A. He/lander INVENTOR.

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Uilit MECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE BOOM TYPE PULL SHOVEL ATTACHMENT FOR CRANES This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in earth working equipment, and more specifically to an improved pull shovel attachment for cranes.

In the design of pull shovels, many factors must be taken into consideration. The longer the boom the longer the reach, the higher the maximum dumping height and the deeper the maximum digging depth that can be attained, all desirable features. The shorter the boom, the greater the load handling capacity, the increased ability to work with less room and the capability of ex cavating a trench to grade closer to the machine, also desirable features. It will therefore be readily apparent that the length of a boom of the pull shovel greatly restricts the particular use to which the pull shovel is placed. Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a pull shovel attachment for cranes which is of such a nature whereby the pivot for the bucket stick may be selectively positioned along the length of the boom so that a single boom may be utilized for all conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pull shovel attachment for cranes which includes a carriage slidable within a boom and selectively positioned relative thereto, the carriage supporting the bucket stick so that a pull shovel in each placement of the machine may dig a ditch, trench, etc., to a given grade of a much greater length before it becomes necessary to move the machine in order to continue with the excavation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved pull shovel attachment for cranes which includes a carriage slidably and guidably mounted within a boom and selectively positioned relative thereto, the carriage carrying both the bucket stick and sheaves for the pull cable, whereby the same relationship between the bucket stick and the pull cable is maintained at all times irrespective of the position of the bucket stick with respect to the ends of the boom.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved guide for use in conjunction with pull shovels whereby the machine may be readily aligned with the trench, ditch, foundation, etc., to be excavated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described, and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the pull shovel attached to a three drum crane utilizing the boom which is the subject of this invention, the bucket stick being shown in an intermediate position and by dotted lines in positions at extreme inner and outer points, only a portion of the cab of the crane being illustrated, a guide for the boom being shown in solid lines in an inoperative position and by dotted lines in an operative position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the boom with the upper portion of the bucket stick broken away and an outer States If atent inc Patented Mar. 10, 1959 part of the boom adjacent the outer end thereof--..b eing broken away, there being illustrated the relationship of the carriage with respect to the boom;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure l and shows the details of the inner end of the boom including a sheave and roller arrangement at such inner end;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure l and shows specifically the details of the relationship between the carriage and the boom, also being illustrated is the relationship between the bucket stick and the boom;

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the carriage removed from the boom and shows the specific details thereof, an intermediate portion of the body of the carriage being broken away and upper and lower ends of the bucket stick being broken away; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of Figure 5 and shows the specific mounting of the bucket stick.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figure l a conventional type of crane which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The crane 10 has attached thereto the pull shovel attachment which is the subject of this invention, the pull shovel attachment being referred to in general by the reference numeral 12.

The pull shovel attachment 12 includes an elongated boom which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14. The boom 14, as is best illustrated in Figure 4, is formed of a pair of transversely spaced, parallel I- beams 16. Each I-beam 16 includes an upper flange 18, a lower flange 20 and a vertical connecting web 22. The extreme outer ends of the beams 16 are connected together by a transverse end plate 24. The inner ends of the beams 16 are connected together by a transverse plate 26 which overlies and is secured to the flanges 18, as is best illustrated in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a carriage which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 28. The carriage 28 includes a body formed by a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced bars 30 and 32. Carried by the forward end of the bars 30 and 32 is a first wheel assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 34. Carried by the rear or inner end of the bars 30 and 32 is a second wheel assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 36.

The first wheel assembly 34 includes a transverse shaft 38 carried by the bars 30 and 32 adjacent the outer ends thereof. Disposed adjacent the bar 30, but spaced therefrom, is a wheel mounting bar 40. The wheel mount ing bar 40 is provided at the outer end thereof with an axle 42 held in place by a setscrew 44. Mounted on the axle 42 immediately adjacent the bar 40 is a spacer 46. Disposed adjacent the spacer 46 and rotatably carried by the axle 42 is a wheel 48 having a flange 50. The wheel 48 is retained on the axle 42 by a nut 52 anda spacer 54 is disposed between the nut 52 and the wheel 48.

Carried by the rear part of the bar 40 is an axle (not shown) identical with the axle 42, this ax1e,being retained in place by a setscrew 56. Carried by the second axle is a wheel 58 identical with the wheel 48. The wheel 58 is retained in place by a nut 60 and is positioned by spacers 62 and 64 on opposite .sides thereof. The wheel 58 includes a flange 66.

Also carried by the shaft as, but adjacent the bar 32,15

a bar 68. The bar 68 corresponds with the bar 40 and carries wheels 70 and 72 mounted in exactly the same manner as the wheels 48 and 58, respectively.

Mounted on the shaft 38 intermediate the bar and the bar is one plate of a bucket stick which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 74, the plate being referred to by the reference numeral 76. The plate 76 is spaced from the bar 30 by suitable spacers 78 and from the bar 40 by a spacer 80. The plate 76 includes a hub portion 82 which is journaled on the shaft 38.

Disposed between the bars 32 and 68 and pivotally carried by the shaft 38 is a second plate 84 of the bucket stick 74. The plate 84 includes a central hub 86 receiving the shaft 38. The plate 84 is spaced from the bar 32by a spacer 88 and from the bar 68 by a spacer 90.

It isto be noted that the bar 40 is provided with a hub 92. Engaging the hub 92 is a nut 94 carried by the shaft 38 andretaining the bar 40 thereon. The bar 68 includes a similar hub 96 engaged by a nut 8.

While the bucket stick 74 has been described as including only the plates 76 and 84, it is to be understood that the plates 76 and 84 will be suitably connected together and reinforced so as to form a rigid structure. As is best illustrated in Figure 1, the lower end of the bucket stick 74 is provided with a removable bucket 100. The bucket 100 is spaced with respect to the bucket stick 74 by a brace 102.' This particular arrangement is conventional and need not be described in more detail hereinafter.

A second wheel assembly includes a sleeve 104 which is disposed between the inner ends of the bars 30 and 32 and secured to the same. Extending through the sleeve 104 and positioned relative thereto by a setscrew 106 is an axle (not shown). Mounted on this axle and secured to the bar 32 is a hub 108. The hub 108 is retained in place with respect to the axle by means of a setscrew 110. Rigidly secured to the hub 110 is a fixed anchoring sheave 112. Mounted on the end of the axle (not shown) adj'acent the sheave 112 and spaced therefrom by a spacer 114 is a wheel 116, the wheel 116 having a flange 118. The wheel 116 is retained in place by a nut 120 which is spaced from the wheel 116 by a spacer 122.

' Mounted on the axle carried by the sleeve 104 adjacent the bar 30 is a sheave assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 124. The sheave assembly 124 includes a bracket 126 which is spaced from the bar 30 by a spacer 128. Mounted within the bracket 126 and on the axle (not shown) is a sheave 130. A smaller sheave 132 is carried by the outer part of the sheave bracket 126 in alignment with the sheave 130.

Mounted on the outer end of the axle carried by the sleeve 104 adjacent the sheave assembly 124 is a wheel 134 having a flange 136. The wheel 134 is retained in place by a nut 138 and is positioned by a pair of spacers 140 and 142.

It is to be noted that the outer ends of the bars 30 and 32 are connected together by a pin 144. The pin 144 is secured in place by setscrews 146 carried by the bars 30 and 32.

7 Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that the crane 10 is provided at the front part thereof with upstanding standards 148, the standards also being illustrated in Figure 3. Extending between the lower parts of the standards 148 is a boom mounting pin 150. The pin 150 is retained in place by nuts 152 on the opposite ends thereof.

In order that the boom 14 may be mounted on the boom mounting pin 150, there is carried by each of the I-beams 16 sleeves 154, the sleeves being aligned and receiving the boom mounting pin 150. The opposed ends of the sleeves 154 are spaced apart and disposed therebetween in a sheave 156, the sheave 156 being suitably journaled on the boom mounting pin 150.

Carried by the plate 26 is a pair of transversely spaced brackets 1 58 carrying a pin 160 having mounted thereon a guide roller 162.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that the structure of the boom 14 is such that the I-beams 16 form a trackway for the carriage 28. The wheels 48, 58, 70, 72, 116 and 134 engage the flanges of the I-beams 16, and the flanges of these wheels engage the edges of the flanges of the I-beams 16 to properly position the carriage 28 with respect to the boom 14 and permit only the guided movement thereof along the length of the boom 14. In order that the carriage 28 may be selectively poistioned along the length of the boom 14 to properly position the bucket stick 74, there is provided a cable 164 whch has one end thereof mounted on a drum (not shown) of the crane 10. The cable 164 passes under the sheave 156, as is best illustrated in Figure 3, and along the length of the boom 12. Carried by the plate 24 is a sheave 166 over which the cable 164 is entrained. The cable 164 passes inwardly through the boom 12 from the sheave 166 and is anchored on the pin 144. By anchoring the cable 164, inward movement of the carriage 28 is prevented. Further, by reeling in on the cable 164, the carriage 28 may be pulled outwardly to a desired position. To efiect the movement of the carriage inwardly to a desired position, cable 164 is released and cable 174 is reeled in. When the desired position of the carriage has been reached, cable 164 is anchored.

In addition to the cable 164, the crane 10 will also include the customary pull cable, the pull cable being referred to by the reference numeral 168. The pull cable 168 is reeled on a suitable drum (not shown) of the crane 10 and normally passes above the roller 162, as is best illustrated in Figure 1. However, in a lowered poistion of the boom 14, the pull cable 168 will ride on the roller 162. The cable 168 passes outwardly above the boom 14 and over the sheave 130. The cable 168 passes downwardly under the sheave 132 and is engaged around a sheave 170 carried by the brace 102. The cable 168 then returns to the sheave 112 and is dead-ended thereon. By pulling on the cable 168, the bucket 100 may be pulled toward the crane 10 in a digging operation.

Carried by the upper ends of the supports 148 is a pulley or sheave 172. Entrained over the sheave 172 is a hoist cable 174 which enters into the crane 10 and is reeled on a suitable drum (not shown) mounted therein. The upper end of the bucket stick 74 has pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 176 a sheave as sembly 178 including a sheave 180. The cable 174 passes from the sheave 172 around the sheave 180 and back to the vicinity of the sheave 172 where it is deadended. By tensioning the cable 174, the bucket and/or the boom may be hoisted in the conventional manner.

From the foregoing description of the boom 14, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a boom which is so constructed whereby the bucket stick of the pull shovel may be selectively positioned along the length of an elongated boom to operate as is deemed the most efiicient. Further, inasmuch as the relationship of the pull cable 168 with respect to the bucket stick 74 remains constant even though the bucket stick 74 is selectively positioned along the length of the boom 16, due to the mounting of the sheaves for the pull cable 168 on the carriage 28, the shifting of the carriage 28 and the bucket stick 74 along the length of the boom 14 will in no Way affect the operation of the pull shovel.

In basement type house construction, after the basements have been dug, it is usually necessary that suitable trenches be dug for the pouring of the footings. Up to this time, no machine has been built which will excavate these trenches. Accordingly, these footing trenches must be dug by hand. This is expensive and time consuming. With the present invention, because of the relatively great length of the boom and because the bucket stick 74 may be selectively positioned along the boom, the crane utilizing the attachment 12 may be posi' tioned at one corner of the house on the solid ground adjacent the portion o he ground dug away for the baseestates ment and when aligned with the footing to be dug, may set in that one position and dig the entire footing by merely moving the bucket stick 74 towards the crane as is necessary in the digging operation. It will be readily apparent that the present invention will be highly desirable for this one use alone. However, the invention is not limited to this particular use, and may be utilized to advantage in many operations. For example, because of the particular relationship of the elements of the mechanically adjustable boom type pull shovel, deeper ditches can be dug, the earth may be dumped at a higher level, greater loads may be lifted than is possible with the normal boom because of shortened position of the bucket stick and a greater reach is attained. Yet this pull shovel will excavate a trench to a given grade up to the spot where the crane is standing. Other numerous ad vantages will readily be apparent from the use of the invention.

In order to facilitate the aligning of the bucket 10 with a trench being dug, there is provided on opposite sides of the boom 14 suitable guides whichare referred to in general by the reference numeral 182. Each of the guides 182 includes a telescoping rod 184 pivotally connected to a plate 186 on the associated ones of the I- beams 16 by means of a pivot pin 188. When not in use, the telescoped rods 184 are disposed in the general plane of the boom 14, as is best illustrated by solid lines in Figure 1. The rods 184 are retained in these positions by lines 190 which are entrained over pulleys 192 and 194 carried by the boom 14. The lines 190 pass into the carriage 10 and are wound on a suitable reel, such as a fishing. reel. When the lines 190 are payed out, as illustrated by the dash-dot lines in Figure l, the rods 184 are permitted to be lowered beneath the boom 14. The rods 184 are then brought into alignment with guide lines for the trench or footing to be dug so as to accurately position the boom 14. Thus, an accurate trench may be excavated.

It is to be understood that the cross-section of the boom 14 will vary depending upon the length thereof and the loads to be imposed thereon. Further, the boom may be reinforced in any desired manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a crane of the three drum type; an attachment comprising an elongated boom; means at one end of said boom pivotally attaching said boom to said crane for swinging in a vertical plane; an implement stick; said implement stick having a longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically through said boom; said implement stick having an upper portion projecting above said boom and a lower portion extending below said boom; an implement on the lower end of said lower portion; a movable carriage mounted on said boom for movement longitudinally thereof; a transverse pivot pin carried by said carriage; said implement stick having an intermediate portion receiving said pivot pin whereby said implement stick is mounted for swinging movement on said carriage in a vertical plane passing through said boom; said crane having an elevated cable guide; a hoist cable reeled on one of said drums; said hoist cable being entrained over said elevated cable guide and extending therefrom towards said implement stick; means connecting said hoist cable to said upper portion of said implement stick; a second transverse pivot pin carried by said carriage intermediate the first mentioned transverse pivot pin and the one end of said boom; a guide sheave mounted on said second transverse pivot pin; a pull cable reeled on a second of said drums; said pull cable being entrained over said guide sheave and connected to said lower portion of said implement stick; said hoist cable, in cooperation with said pull cable, supporting and controlling the vertical position of said implement stick, said implement, said boom and said carriage; said pull cable, in cooperation with said hoist cable, operating said implement stick and said implement; a second sheave mounted at the end of said boom remote from said crane; a third cable reeled on said third drum, over said last mentioned sheave and anchored to said carriage remote from said crane for positioning and restraining said carriage.

2. In combination with a crane of the three drum type; an attachment comprising an elongated boom; means at one end of said boom for pivotally attaching said boom to said crane for swinging in a vertical plane; a movable carriage mounted on said boom for movement longitudinally along said boom; a transverse pivot pin carried by said carriage; an implement stick; said implement stick having an intermediate portion receiving said pivot pin whereby said implement stick is mounted for swinging movement on said pivot pin in a vertical plane passing through said boom; said implement stick having an upper portion projecting above said boom and a lower portion extending below said boom; an implement on the lower end of said lower portion; said crane having an elevated cable guide; a hoist cable reeled on one of said drums; said hoist cable being entrained over said elevated cable guide and extending therefrom towards said implement stick; means connecting said hoist cable to said upper portion of said implement stick; a pull cable reeled on a second of said drums; said pull cable being connected to said lower portion of said implement stick; said hoist cable, in cooperation with said pull cable, supporting and controlling the vertical position of said implement stick, said implement, said boom and said carriage; said pull cable, in cooperation with said hoist cable, operating said implement stick and said implement; a sheave carried by said boom remote from said crane; a third cable reeled on the third one of said drums, passing around said sheave and terminally connected to said carriage remote from said crane for positioning and restraining said carriage.

3. In combination with a crane of the type having at least two drums; an attachment comprising an elongated boom; means at one end of said boom pivotally attaching said boom to said crane to swing in a vertical plane; an implement stick; said implement stick having a longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically through said boom; said implement stick having an upper portion projecting above said boom and a lower portion extending below said boom; an implement mounted on the lower end of said implement stick; a movable carriage mounted on said boom for movement longitudinally thereof; a transverse pivot pin carried by said carriage; said implement stick having an intermediate portion receiving said pivot pin whereby said implement stick is mounted for swinging movement on said pivot pin in a vertical plane passing through said boom; said crane having an elevated cable guide; a hoist cable reeled on one of said drums; said hoist cable being entrained over said elevated cable guide and extending therefrom towards said implement stick; means connecting said hoist cable to said upper portion of said implement stick; a second transverse pivot pin carried by said carriage intermediate said first mentioned transverse pivot pin and the one. end of said boom; a guide sheave mounted on said second transverse pivot pin; a pull cable reeled on a second one of said drums; said pull cable being entrained over said guide sheave and connected to said lower portion of said implement stick; said hoist cable, in cooperation with said pull cable, supporting and controlling the vertical position of said implement stick, said implement, said boom and said carriage; said pull cable, in cooperation with said hoist cable, operating said implement stick and said implement; and means con nected to said carriage for anchoring said carriage against movement relative to said boom.

4. In combination with a crane of the type having at least two drums; an attachment comprising an elongated boom; means at one end of said boom pivotally attaching said boom to said crane to swing in a vertical plane; an implement stick; said implement stick having a longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically through said boom; said implement stick having an upper portion projecting above said boom and a lower portion extending below said boom; an implement mounted on the lower end of said implement stick; a movable carriage mounted on said boom for movement longitudinally thereof; a transverse pivot pin carried by said carriage; said implement stick having an intermediate portion receiving said pivot pin whereby said implement stick is mounted for swinging movement on said pivot pin in a vertical plane passing through said boom; said crane having an elevated cable guide; a hoist cable reeled on one of said drums; said hoist cable being entrained over said elevated cable guide and extending therefrom towards said implement stick; means connecting said hoist cable to said upper portion of said implement stick; a pull cable reeled on a second one of said drums; said pull cable being connected to said lower portion of said implement stick; said hoist cable, in cooperation with said pull cable, supporting and controlling the vertical position of said implement stick, said implement, said boom and said carriage; said pull cable, in cooperation with said hoist cable, operating said implement stick and said implement; and means connected to said carriage for anchoring said carriage against movement rela tive to said boom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,042 Blickensderfer Dec. 8, 1885 999,953 Boehm Aug. 8, 1911 1,175,617 De Vries Mar. 4, 1916 1,929,004 Pugh Oct. 3, 1933 2,738,889 Fritsch Mar. 20, 1956 

